Apparatus for steam conditioning textile articles

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for steam conditioning articles, such as neckties and cravats and napped belts and napped fabrics, in which the article to be treated is disposed in a cavity located between a pair of spaced supporting members on which a heated pressing iron is adapted to be supported in relatively closed spaced relation to the article being pressed. The device supporting the iron may include a pressing cloth engaged by the iron that may be moistened for the generation of steam and either with or without the pressing cloth the iron is advantageously a steam type iron. The arrangement prevents the sole of the iron from pressing directly on the article being treated and thereby prevents deformation of the nap on the article or the forming of sharp wrinkles or creases therein.

Harms [54] APPARATUS FOR STEAM commonmc TEXTILE ARTICLES [76] Inventor:John F. Harms, 6418 Stonybrook Dr., Fort Wayne, 1nd. 46815 [22] Filed:Feb. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 223,244

[52] US. Cl. 38/141, 68/240 [51 Int. CL; D061 79/00 [58] Field of Search..38/69-72,103140,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,641,037 8/1927Kirschenbaum 223/51 580,263 4/1897 Fearn 38/142 732,394 6/1903 clapp38/107 X 3,500,666 3/1970 Calcaterra 68/240 X 3,030,792 4/1962 Bader68/240 2,703,939 3/1955 Clarke 38/41 3,138,885 6/1964 DeGrazia 38/1412,257,146 9/1941 Zirker et al.... 38/141 X 3,181,483 5/1965 DeVitt eta1. 108/25 [451 Feb.26, 1974 3,305,956 2/1967 Fleischer ..38/162,782,537 2/1957 Vera-Mege ..38/17X Primary ExaminerGeo. V. LarkinAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Albert L. Jeffers; Roger M. Rickert [57]ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for steam conditioning articles, such asneckties and cravats and napped belts and napped fabrics, in which thearticle to be treated is disposed in a cavity located between a pair ofspaced supporting members on which a heated pressing iron is adapted tobe supported in relatively closed spaced relation to the article beingpressed. The device supporting the iron may include a pressing clothengaged by the iron that may be moistened for the generation of steamand either with or without the pressing cloth the iron is advantageouslya steam type iron. The arrangement prevents the sole of the iron frompressing directly on the article being treatedand thereby preventsdeformation of the nap on the article or the forming of sharp wrinklesor creases therein.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZS 1914 V 3793754 sum 2 or 2 Thepresent invention relates to a method and apparatus for the steamtreatmentof textile articles, such as neckties, cravats, napped beltsand like fabrics for the purpose of removing wrinkles and creasestherefrom.

Certain articles, such as neckties, napped belts and like fabrics, aredifficult to condition by ordinary pressing methods, either with orwithout the use of steam because the weight or pressure of the pressingiron, even a steam iron, on the articles will result in disfiguringthereof, either by forming sharply creased edges, or by matting down thenap, or in other manners. For example, with a tie, the pressing thereofin a conventional manner on an ironing board with an iron, even when asteam iron is employed, will cause the back seam of the tie to impart anoutline on the face of the tie which is a disfigurement of the tie. thatdestroys the utility thereof.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary objective of the present inventionis the provision of a method and apparatus for pressing articles of thenature referred to in such a manner as to prevent any disfiguring of thearticle.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of amethod and apparatus of the nature referred to above which isinexpensive to practice and which is readily adaptable to articles ofdifferent size and different characteristics.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of theapparatus of the nature referred to which can readily be incorporateddirectly into an ironing board, especially at the time of manufacturethereof.

The foregoing objects as well as still other objects and advantages ofthe present invention will become more apparent upon reference to thefollowing detailed specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of the invention with the supporting ironing boardin section showing how a protective cavity area is produced by thesupport the invention gives the iron, and is indicated by line l-I on'FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention in position for pressing a tie.FIG. 3 is an end view-of the invention incorporated into an improvedpressing cloth.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the improved pressing cloth as shown in FIG. 3,in position over a tie, ready for pressing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the improved pressing cloth as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a top and side view of the invention as incorporated into animproved'ironing board.

' FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the FIG. 6 modification.'

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The arrangement according to the presentinvention involves the provision of a supporting device which straddles,or encompasses, the article to be pressed, or

conditioned, and serves to support the pressing iron so 1 pressing clothinterposed between the pressing iron and the article, or from both. Thearticle, however, is spaced from and is protected from the weight of theiron. In carrying out a pressing operation, the iron is moved along thesupporting device over the article being treated and the article in thecavity is thus subjected to steam, and wrinkles and creases are removedtherefrom.

According to one modification, a supporting frame is provided definingthe cavity and on which the pressing iron rests directly.

In another modification, the frame has incorporated therewith a pressingcloth extending over the article being treated and is adapted for beingmoistened to generate steam, or to assist in the generation of steam inthe cavity in which the article is disposed.

In still another modification, a conventional ironing board is formedwith a transverse groove, preferably near one end, and of a width anddepth to receive articles to be treated while still providing supportfor the pressing iron at opposite ends thereof, whereby the steaming ofthe article can be accomplished without the pressing iron bearingdirectly on the article being treated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEINVENTION Referring to the drawings somewhatmore in detail, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, thesupport device of the present invention is identified by numeral 20. Thedevice can be used on any flat, rigid surface, such as that of a regularironing board 21, or a table. A pressing iron 22 is shown in position,on the support device 20, and supported thereby above the article 23 tobe treated. The protective cavity area created by the support device 20,and in which article 23 is disposed, is identified by the numeral 24. Itwill be apparent that the sole plate of the iron is held in uniformlyspaced, parallel relation to the bottom surface of cavity 24 as the ironis moved over article 23.

The support device 20 may be constructed of any material havingsufficient strength for the needed support, wood, or metal, for example.As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support device 20 encompasses thearticle 23 along and at least the opposite sides thereof produces theaforementioned protective cavity 24..The opposite side portions of thedevice provide support rail portions along which a pressing iron isslidable. The

' device can be used with or without a regular pressing cloth, dependingon whether a dry or steam iron is used.

In the pressing operation, the iron 22 is moved along the length of thesupport device 20, while being supported on the rail portions thereof,while simultaneously subjecting the article 23 to steam. If a dry iron 7is used, the user would normally place a wetted cloth over the device 20to provide moisture for the generation of steam. In some cases a wettedcloth is recommended with a steam iron also. In either case, whethersteam is generated in the iron, as by the hot sole plate engaging a damppressing cloth, or both, steam is supplied to the cavity beneath thesole plate and treats an article therein.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show how the support device is applied to an improvedpressing cloth to form a unit therewith, and is generally designated at33. The pressing cloth of unit 33, indicated at 30, comprises aflexible, porous material, like cotton drill with .two support rods 31of suitable material, inserted into casings, or sleeves, 32 formed alongtwo opposed edges of cloth 30. The combination forms a single unit 33which is placed over the article 34 which is to be pressed. The pressingiron 35 is placed on the pressing cloth 33 which supports the pressingiron by means of rail portions in the form of the two support rods 31and, thus, provides a cavity area 37 to receive and protect the article34.

The device 33, according to FIGS. 3, 4 and can be used on any flat,rigid surface, such as that of ironing board 36, or a table.

In the pressing operation the iron 35 is moved along the length of thepressing cloth 33, subjecting the article 34 to steam. The pressingcloth 33 may be used with either a dry or steam iron. With either ironit is recommended the pressing cloth 33 be wetted lightly to providesufficient moisture for an ample steam supply into cavity 37.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show how the support device is incorporated directly intothe useful surface of an ironing board 41. A recessed area 40 isprovided in the ironing board 5 surface extending transversely thereofnear one end of the ironing board. The recessed area 40 is of size anddimension adequate to receive an article such as a tie, or belt, 42 andof width to provide support to both ends of the pressing iron 43 by theboards useful surface. The recessed area 40 provides a cavity in whichthe article 42 lies, in position to receive steam, but protected fromthe weight of the iron 43. In the pressing operation, the iron 43 ismoved along the cavity area 40, while being supported at both ends bythe useful surface of the ironing board 41. The ironingv board may beused with or without a wetted press cloth, depending on whether a dry orsteam iron is used, and upon individual preference and the nature of thearticle being pressed.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended I claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for use in the steam treatment of articles subject todeformation by the weight of a pressing iron wherein the device keepsthe weight and pressure of the pressing iron from being exerted onto thearticle being steam treated while allowing sufficient space to applyconditioning steam to the article comprising support means including twosubstantially parallel spaced support members forproviding a protectivecavity on a plane surface for receiving the article to be treated, aflexible cloth extending over the top of the said support means andsecured thereto, and said support members adapted to support thepressing iron above the ar ticle in the protective cavity while spacingthe pressing iron sufficiently close to the article to adequately applysteam thereto.

2. A device according to claim 1 in .which the support means are rodshape rail members and said flexible cloth is provided with sleeveportions for receiving said rail members.

1. In a device for use in the steam treatment of articles subject todeformation by the weight of a pressing iron wherein the device keepsthe weight and pressure of the pressing iron from being exerted onto thearticle being steam treated while allowing sufficient space to applyconditioning steam to the article comprising support means including twosubstantially parallel spaced support members for providing a protectivecavity on a plane surface for receiving the article to be treated, aflexible cloth extending over the top of the said support means andsecured thereto, and said support members adapted to support thepressing iron above the article in the protective cavity while spacingthe pressing iron sufficiently close to the article to adequately applysteam thereto.
 2. A device according to claim 1 in which the supportmeans are rod shape rail members and said flexible cloth is providedwith sleeve portions for receiving said rail members.